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Assessment Results

 

Ambystoma bombypellum

Axolotl, Delicateskin Salamander

Ajolote

Order: Caudata Family: Ambystomatidae
Synonym(s):

Assessed for: Mexico   on: 25 Apr 2020   by: AArk/ASG Assessment Workshop
IUCN Global Red List: Data Deficient (DD)
National Red List: (not assessed)
Distribution: Mexico
Evolutionary Distinctiveness score: 17.5217892

Recommended Conservation Actions:

Additional Comments: Se han monitoreado en los últimos 3 años con 2 poblaciones y falta monitorear una tercera. Se han hecho intentos de mantenimiento en cautiverio sin éxito. Ex-situ breeding programmes could also be attempted in order to secure a stock with which to reintroduce the species into its range.

Question # Short Name Question Text Response Comments
1 Extinction risk Current IUCN Red List category. [Data obtained from the IUCN Red List.] Data Deficient (DD) Listed as Data Deficient in view of continuing uncertainties as to its taxonomic validity, uncertain provenance, extent of occurrence, population status, ecological requirements, and threats.
2 Possibly extinct Is there a strong possibility that this species might be extinct in the wild? No / unlikely
3 Phylogenetic significance The taxon’s Evolutionary Distinctiveness (ED) score, as generated by the ZSL EDGE program. (These data are not editable by Assessors). ED value < 20
4 Protected habitat Is a population of at least 50% of the individuals of the taxon included within a well-managed or reliably protected area or areas? Unknown Currently, it is only known to occur in one threat-defined location in the area of Nevado de Toluca. This species occurs in the Area de Conservación Nevado de Toluca.
5 Habitat for reintroduction, conservation translocation or supplementation Does enough well-managed and reliably protected habitat exist, either within or outside of currently protected areas that is suitable for conservation translocation, including population restoration or conservation introduction? Yes / probably Área de Conservación Nevado de Toluca
6 Previous reintroductions Have reintroduction or translocation attempts been made in the past for this species? No
7 In situ conservation activities Are any in situ conservation actions currently in place for this species? (Only required if a Red List Assessment has not been completed, or if new actions have been implemented since the last Red List Assessment. (Information from the Conservation Actions section of the Red List assessment should be reviewed and considered when answering this question.). No / unlikely
8 In situ conservation activities Are additional in situ conservation actions required to help conserve this species in the wild (e.g. habitat restoration and/or protection, control of invasive species, national legislation etc.)? Yes / probably The management of Area de Conservación Nevado de Toluca needs to be improved.
9 In situ research Is additional in situ research required to better understand the species, e.g. distribution, population trends, natural history etc.? Yes A monitoring program to follow population trends is highly advisable.
10 Threat mitigation Are the threats facing the taxon, including any new and emerging threats not considered in the IUCN Red List, potentially reversible? Threats unknown The habitat of this species is under threat from agriculture, in particular from commercial wheat farming, leading to the desiccation and pollution of its breeding lakes and water reservoirs within its small range, and leading to the extinction of five of the six known subpopulations. However, survival of this species appears to be compatible with sheep grazing, particularly if stock ponds are available for breeding. A recent development is that the former Parque Nacional Nevado de Toluca has changed its status and is now only a Conservation Area, which is a far less strict conservation category. Field work shows an increase in logging and the use of agrochemicals in the area.
11 Over-collection from the wild Is the taxon suffering from collection within its natural range, either for food, for the pet trade or for any other reason, which threatens the species’ continued persistence in the wild? No / unlikely
12 Population recovery Is the known population of this species in the wild large enough to recover naturally, without ex situ intervention if threats are mitigated? Unknown It was previously known from six subpopulations, however now only one remains. The remaining subpopulation is stable and apparently in good condition (X. Aguilar pers. comm. Mexico Red List Assessment Workshop 2014).
13 Action plans Does an Action Plan for the species already exist, or is one currently being developed? No
14 Biological distinctiveness Does the taxon exhibit a distinctive reproductive mode, behaviour, aspect of morphology or physiology, within the Order to which it belongs (e.g. Anura, Passeriformes etc.)? No aspect of biology known to be exceptional
15 Cultural/socio-economic importance Does the taxon have a special human cultural value (e.g. as a national or regional symbol, in a historic context, featuring in traditional stories) or economic value (e.g. food, traditional medicine, tourism) within its natural range or in a wider global context? No
16 Scientific importance Is the species vital to current or planned research other than species-specific ecology/biology/conservation within the Order to which it belongs (e.g. Anura, Passeriformes etc.) e.g. human medicine, climate change, environmental pollutants and conservation science? No research dependent on this species
17 Ex situ research Does conserving this species (or closely related species) in situ depend upon research that can be most easily carried out ex situ? Yes Ex-situ breeding programs could also be attempted in order to secure a stock with which to reintroduce the species into its range.
18 Ex situ conservation activities Is any ex situ research or other ex situ conservation action currently in place for this species? (Information from the Conservation Actions section of the Red List assessment should be reviewed and considered when answering this question.) No / unlikely
19 Husbandry analog required If an ex situ rescue program is recommended for this species, would an analog species be required to develop husbandry protocols first?
20 Husbandry analog Do the biological and ecological attributes of this species make it suitable for developing husbandry regimes for more threatened related species? i.e. could this species be used in captivity to help to develop husbandry and breeding protocols which could be used for a similar, but more endangered species at a later stage? No
21 Captive breeding Has this species been successfully bred and/or maintained in captivity? Maintained but no successful breeding Also maintaining haven't been successful in the medium/long term
22 Conservation education/ecotourism potential Is the species especially diurnal, active or colourful, or is there an interesting or unusual aspect of its ecology that make it particularly suitable to be an educational ambassador for conservation of the species in the range country, either in zoos or aquariums or within ecotourism activities? No
23 Mandate Is there an existing conservation mandate recommending the ex situ conservation of this taxon? No
24 Range State approval If an ex situ initiative was proposed for this species, would it be supported (and approved) by the range State (either within the range State or out-of-country ex situ)? Yes / probably
25 Founder specimens Are sufficient animals of the taxon available or potentially available (from wild or captive sources) to initiate an ex situ program, if one was recommended? Unknown Research into availability of founders needs to be prioritised.
26 Taxonomic status Has a complete taxonomic analysis of the species in the wild been carried out, to fully understand the functional unit you wish to conserve (i.e. have species limits been determined)? No Research into species validity needs to be prioritised.

Citation: AArk/ASG Assessment Workshop. 2020. Conservation Needs Assessment for Ambystoma bombypellum, Mexico.
https://www.conservationneeds.org/assessment/24 Accessed 19 May 2024